Category Archives: Local Government

Senior Center Dreams

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What should a Senior Center in Oak Ridge be?  Where should it be?  What should it provide?  Those are questions that will doubtless be debated and discussed in an informal meeting with City Council members next Thursday (1 p.m.) at the City Service Center.

The Oak Ridge Senior Center used to be in a building that most of us recognize as "the old Wildcat Den," at the corner of Robertsville Road and the Turnpike (near Grove Center).  When that building was deemed too old, services were moved to rented space in the old Daniel Arthur school.

In a city that truly cares and provides for the needs of elder citizens, wouldn’t it be nice to have a facility where there is appropriate space for group activities or classes, recreational and physical fitness facilities, a kitchen where meals could be prepared, perhaps even a reading area and some networked computers?  For a city that dreams big, it’s quite possible.  There could be rooms for card games, one with billiards and ping pong, maybe even an indoor heated pool.  Dreaming really big, there might even be a park nearby!

A facility like that might be so attractive that younger people would also want to go there, providing healthy social interaction between generations — alleviating the isolation that many seniors encounter (the basis for needing such a center to begin with). 

Done right, it would be centrally located and fully handicap accessible — all on one level, with automatic doors and such. 

But it would be so expensive… or would it?  Can’t you just envision the possibility?

Where the sun doesn’t shine

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Tennessee’s Sunshine (open meetings) Law is said to be one of the toughest in the nation.  While I am strongly in favor of a high standard of open government, I’ve seen evidence that it may be frequently misunderstood by the public to incorporate far more than government legislative bodies.  This morning’s paper indicates that some who should know better are feeding that misconception.

Private tax policy meetings led by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce probably should have been open to the public, a Knoxville media attorney and Nashville open-government advocate said last week.

The Sunshine Law is intended to cover governmental entities — City Councils, County Commissions, School Boards, etc. — with the ability to enact laws or policies affecting the public.  It does NOT cover private companies, volunteer organizations, private schools, chambers of commerce, etc., even if those groups are meeting for the purpose of discussing public policy. 

As long as they can’t make public policy, they can discuss it all they please.  In private.

In this case, members of the Chamber of Commerce met to discuss tax policy (probably tax abatements or tax increment financing).  But, they can’t enact such policy — only give an informed opinion to our City Council, who must then deliberate and decide upon such policy in a properly conducted public meeting.

Of course, I was not surprised at the opinions given the source: attorneys for the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government and the Tennessee Press Association. 

Let’s look at it a little differently, just for the sake of perspective: if the Oak Ridger had an editorial board meeting to discuss the city’s tax policy, would it conduct the meeting in accordance with the provisions of the Sunshine Law (published advance notice, meeting open to the public)?  Would it welcome representatives of the News Sentinel and the Oak Ridge Observer to listen in and perhaps give their own opinions during the public comment period?

I don’t think so. 

Anyone who is interested in tax policy will certainly have the opportunity to not only hear the Chamber’s recommendation (if they give one, which I would expect), but to comment publicly and listen to every word of deliberation amongst those who will actually decide these matters.

Windfall or Lifeline?

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Although some, including the media, have been referring to additional state funding for local school districts as a "windfall," it would probably be more accurate to call it a lifeline.

With the first implementation phase of BEP 2.0, Oak Ridge Schools will receive $1,966,000 additional state funding over last year. However, $997,410 of that had already been included in the FY08 budget in anticipation of growth and new at-risk funding. So, only $968,590 of the new state funding is not already included in the budget passed in April.

After additional mandatory expenses, $300,063 remains for the School Board to allocate.

The administration’s recommendation (which will be posted on the ORS website) for that money includes:

  • Salary equity reclassification for secretaries: $11,310
  • Changing textbook allocation to reflect actual cost: $146,668
  • Changing equipment allocation to approximate actual averages: $67,085
  • Creating a recurring dollars line item for furniture: $75,000

The appropriations for books, equipment, and furniture simply bring the base recurring-dollar allocations for those items up to (or close to) what they really cost, meaning we don’t have to pull from the savings account (fund balance) to pay for them next year. This decreases the likelihood that we’ll have to go to City Council, hat in hand, begging for a greater increase as has happened for the last few years.

However, the Board was advised that the Anderson County roll-out presentation by state officials included an explicit warning: these new state funds are to be used for classroom and instructional items — NOT for buildings or transportation.

"NOT for transportation." It’s almost like they knew what we had to cut from the budget last year, and that their warning was directed specifically to us. Of course, Loudon County is facing the same issue this year, so maybe we weren’t singled out, but nonetheless, it still means that if any changes are made to transportation services, the money has to be cut from some other part of the budget.

However, also in last night’s work session, cost estimates were provided for three additional transportation options, all directed to providing service within the mile radius for elementary school students. The least costly of those would provide service to designated bus stops for elementary students (not the door-to-door service that used to be provided for K-2). The operating cost of that plan is only $25,000, which seems like it could be found, but the kicker is that the Board would also have to begin setting aside an additional $200,000 annually for bus replacement beginning next year.

That’s on top of the $175,000 that we’re already going to have to allocate for bus replacement, even if none of the bus service cuts are restored.

So, providing even bus-stop service to elementary students represents a $25,000 expense this year, which becomes $225,000 beginning next year.

* * * * *
The last item of discussion was in regard to citizen requests and communication. Generally, it was an effort to discern whether the Board is comfortable with the existing procedures for citizen’s requests, and the consensus appears to be that we are. Absolutely, reasonable questions should be answered. And they are.

It was also patently obvious that when answers are provided that do not suit the motives of the person asking, the tactic du jour is to complain and cast dispersion.upon board members and staff for being unresponsive. I’m sure the discussion was confusing to most people, but I hope that at least a few Oak Ridgers understood the message.

Zoned Out

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The problem of better school districts attracting students from outside the designated zone is not a new one — even when I was in high school, there were students whose parents lived outside the city. Some paid tuition to go to Oak Ridge High School; one that I know of moved in with his grandmother (inside the city) and visited his parents in Clinton over the weekend.

The Tennessean carries a good article this morning about Williamson County’s efforts to deal with the problem:

A Maury County family paid $16,251.50 to square up with Williamson County Schools for sending their teen to Franklin High School.

It’s the most costly example among cases in which the school district has sought tuition payments for the 2006-07 school year. The school board gave WCS attorney Jason Golden the authority last year to take people to court when they are caught sending their children to the county’s public schools but do not live in the county.

A few years ago, the State Legislature gave school systems the authority to collect back tuition amounts from families that fraudulently claim residence in a school district for the purpose of avoiding tuition payments. Simply owning property in the school district is not enough — it’s a matter of where the family sleeps at night, the primary address claimed on federal tax returns, utilities service, and other measures.

Oak Ridge does accept tuition students on a select basis as enrollment permits; the application is online (but doesn’t seem to work in Firefox for me — IE tab does).

 

Liveblogging the New Council

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Mosby moves the election of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem to the beginning of the meeting; it was seconded, and passed.

Paper ballots were filled out and collected; Golden votes for Golden; Smith for Beehan; Miller for Beehan; Mosby for Golden; Hayes for Beehan; Hensley for Beehan. Tom Beehan was elected mayor with four votes.

Ballots were collected for the election of Vice-Mayor: Golden votes for Mosby, Smith for Mosby, Miller for Miller, Mosby for Mosby, Hayes for Miller, Hensley for Miller. Following the 3-3 tie, a second round of ballots were collected.

On the second ballot, Golden marked his own name, then asks to correct it voting for Mosby. The second round of ballots ended up exactly the same; Mosby says they’ll vote one more time, then if the tie is not resolved, the election of Vice-Mayor will be put off until the next meeting when the presence of seven members (Beehan is absent) will break the tie. On the third round, the votes remain at a tie.

Upon clarification by City Clerk Jackie Bernard, Mosby suggests that perhaps they should elect a Mayor Pro Tem just until the next meeting. Tom Hayes moves to cast two more ballots, then to elect a temporary Mayor Pro Tem until the next meeting.

A fourth round of ballots is collected, resulting in exactly the same tie. The fifth ballot is exactly the same tie. A motion to delay the election of Mayor Pro Tem until the next meeting passes unanimously. Mosby entertains a motion by Smith to elect Willie Golden temporary Mayor Pro Tem until the next Council meeting, which passed unanimously on a voice vote. A brief break was called to change seats.

Willis is sworn in as the Mayor Pro Tem until the July Council meeting, and takes the center chair.

Moving back to the agenda from the beginning, Councilman Mosby notes that there are several items to be added: one repealing ordinance #13-06, a resolution on bids and contracts (awarding a $42k contract to a landscape service, and a third that I didn’t get.

Dan Barnett of Blue Ridge Development appears to speak to the rezoning of a parcel in Commerce Park. Their intention is to develop the parcels, or sell them for development similar to the existing businesses in the area. He proposes to rezone a parcel at the corner of Bethel Valley Road and Scarboro Road to provide a convenience store, bank, or other retail and service operations. Charlie Hensley notes that the Planning Commission recommended UB-2 rather than B-2, and asks why the change. Barnett replies that UB-2 is "use on review," which would require extensive review for each individual business. B-2 is a more business-friendly zoning. O’Connor notes that this site does not have access back to the rest of the industrial park.

Tery Mullins, owner of the adjoining property, says that they moved to Commerce Park so that they would be separated from commercial and residential development. He would like to see the adjoining properties remain Ind-1 or Ind-2. Mullins owns all adjoining property. There seems to be a bit of disagreement over whether either party refused to meet with the other. Barnett lists the other developments they’ve done including some along Northshore Drive, Pellissippi Parkway, and others.

Hayes asks if it’s acceptable to mix retail and industrial, but O’Connor replies that Commerce Park is really mixed use — it’s more office than industrial, and it has been rezoned to include one church. Because of the traffic volume and the location of the parcel, O’Connor says they feel that it would not have an adverse impact on Commerce Park.

[It seems to me like a decent opportunity to capture some sales tax revenue… let’s do it!]

Item E, adoption of a resolution authorizing the City’s continuing participation in ETEDA, is removed from the consent agenda by Ellen Smith.

The first reading of the ordinance discussed by Barnett and Mullins comes up for first reading. Ellen asks if the access needs of business use are different from the access needs of industrial use. O’Connor says that the City must provide access from the public road, but also has the right to designate certain limitations, such as right-turn in and right-turn out. The motion passes with only Mosby in opposition.

Hensley moves to move the Youth Advisory Board meeting up, so that the young people present may learn their fates. There are six candidates for five positions. Jasmine McKamey and Ethel Bonner (?) are present, running for the Freshman and Junior representatives, respectively. A tie was reached for the fifth position, between Robinson and Shire, with Hayes, Hensley, adn Mosby voting for Robinson, and Smith, Miller and Golden voting for Shire. A second round of ballots were collected, yielding another tie. Smith moves to postpone the election of this position until the next meeting. Hensley asks if this would pose any hardship. Matt Reedy, YAB representative, notes that they do plan to meet twice before than the next Council meeting. He points out that Ms. Shire has taken the initiative to attend a couple of YAB meetings to familiarize herself with the process, while he has not met Ms. Robinson. Business can continue with a quorum. Golden asks that they vote twice more, and calls the question (to postpone),and the vote tied, meaning that the motion fails. Two more ballots will be taken (if not resolved by one). On the third ballot, they tied again on the same lines. They only have one more piece of paper, and it tied again. Mosby moves to move this election back to the regular place in the agenda, given that neither candidate is present. The motion passed, so it will be moved to later on tonight’s agenda.

An ordinance to amend Title 15, Chapter 5, to allow for speed limits lower than 25 miles per hour based on design speeds and roadway plans. This is intended for some of the new high-density neighborhoods. Streets in Rarity Ridge may be affected. The ordinance passed on first reading.

After approving a grant resolution, Council next takes up adopting a new salary schedule for City employees, designed to keep employees from topping out, and to remain competitive with surrounding market labor rates. Essentially, it just moves the entire salary schedule up 1%, and it passed.

A resolution to purchase the National Guard Armory for not more than $40,000 is next; Girls Inc. and the Kennel Club have expressed interest, but it is the City’s jurisdiction to dispose of the property as they see fit. O’Connor’s plan is to transfer the property with full restitution (so one or both entities would purchase it from the City). If sold to a nonprofit, the City could build in a restriction saying that if the nonprofit(s) ever decided to sell the property, the City would have right of first refusal, for the same price as sold to the nonprofit. The resolution passed.

The next resolution would appoint a seven-member Charter Review Committee (per the Charter) on July 16, provided that sufficient candidates are available at that time. Rick Chinn, who served as Vice-Chair of the Charter Commission which put this item in place, spoke to the reasoning for putting that provision in place. They put this provision in to allow for housekeeping items, so that future Charter Commissions will not have to spend so much time on aligning the Council with State law. The resolution was approved.

The next resolution authorizes the City to submit a grant application for operating assistance for public transportation (operated by ETHRA). About 5,300 trips per year are taken in the ETHRA van. They don’t have the numbers available on the taxi coupons.

Lastly, the ETEDA resolution (pulled from Consent by Ellen Smith) was reviewed: to pay ETEDA dues in the amount of $26,116 annually — half of which is paid by TVA. Smith asks what relationship ETEDA has to the other economic development organizations — like ETEDA, the Chamber, and others. O’Connor clarifies that some are more Oak-Ridge focused than others. The Oak Ridge Economic Parnership is primarily involved in industrial development; the Chamber on business and retail. We work with adjoining economic development entities (Roane Alliance, for example) for joint efforts like tenants for Horizon Center. ETEDA is a sixteen-county effort. JobsNOW! is another arm of the 16-county region — sort of a marketing/branding entity. After much discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

A contract for tree-trimming was approved for $856,543.03 to Seelbach & Company, the lowest & best bid. Their price is 69% of the next lowest bid, probably because they already have the people and equipment in place. Smith notes that EQAB has fielded a lot of complaints about the tree-trimming, and that Seelbach is less interested in "retail" customer service — making the homeowners happy, rather than the electric department. Nonetheless, it was approved unanimously.

Diversified Service Industries was awarded a mowing contract for $115,837.60 for Parks & Recreation. They were the sole bidders. Since the work is seasonal, it’s hard to hire (and train) the personnel to perform the service. They’ve done the work for 22 years, which may be why there was only one bidder.

A second contract to Diversified Landscape Industries (part of the same company) was awarded for litter pick-up. A 10-minute break was called. I’m going home.

 

Local Leadership

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I ran across an interesting line in today’s letters to the editor: "Great leaders push their citizens in the right direction and let them figure out how best to get there."

That’s a certain reversal of the way I’ve always thought it works.  By definition, shouldn’t great leaders lead their citizens in the right direction, hopefully having researched some in advance to know how to get there?

It’s a relevant question in the coming days, because on Monday night, City Council will elect from among themselves a mayor and vice-mayor.  As of today, two have declared their interest in the mayor’s job (Beehan and Golden), and two for the vice-mayor’s job (Miller and Mosby).  Unfortunately, Golden — or maybe his head cheerleader — has chosen to play the race card.

This is beneath Willie.  I’d like to think he’s better than such cheap tricks… but what I’d like to think is sometimes more optimistic than reality.

However, now that the race card is on the table, it introduces yet another interesting twist with Mosby’s declaration.  Will the selection of mayor and vice-mayor hinge on trade-offs to ensure that one of the two is selected for a leadership position?

Long-time Oak Ridgers should remember the year that Jerry Kuhaida was elected mayor, where Roy Pruitt experienced an an "et tu, Brute?" moment.

Tom Beehan has the knowledge, experience, and time to ably serve as Oak Ridge’s next mayor, and Jane Miller has the makings of a good understudy for the job.  Monday night should be interesting.

Election Day Tomorrow

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For those who didn’t take advantage of early voting, election day is tomorrow for the City of Oak Ridge.  Polls will be open from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., at precinct locations as follows (courtesy of the Oak Ridger)

• Emory Valley: Jefferson Middle School cafeteria

• Glenwood: Glenwood Elementary School entry foyer

• Hendrix Creek: Senior Center’s large meeting room

• Highland View: Children’s Museum gymnasium

• Oak Ridge City Hall: City Hall’s administration entrance

• Pine Valley: School Administration Building’s gymnasium

• Robertsville: Robertsville Middle School front lobby

• West Hills: Linden Elementary School gymnasium

• Woodland: Woodland Elementary School’s fourth-grade wing atrium

• Oak Hills/Lawnville (all Roane Co. Oak Ridgers): Oak Ridge Country Club’s meeting room

The Oak Ridge Observer published their endorsements at the beginning of early voting, and re-ran the information last Thursday (so it’s still on the newsstands).  The Oak Ridger’s endorsements came out today, and their election tabloid is available online for anyone who’s still undecided.

Early voting turnout topped 3,000 this year; even if the early voting percentage climbs to 50%, that would predict an overall turnout approaching 6,000 voters — very good for a city election, by the usual standards.  It could be somewhat higher.

Without question, Crestpointe has dominated the discussion in this election… even in the school board race.  While I’m grateful that something drove voter interest, I also feel a bit sad that there has to be a divisive issue to drive voter turnout.  But, it is what it is.

Come Wednesday morning, the face of City Council will have changed.  By the end of this month, we will have a new mayor.  We may have approval for the City to go forward with improving retail in Oak Ridge (the referendum is not specific to Crestpointe, and could just as easily be directed to a better proposal if one should emerge), or we may be branded as the city that calls a referendum on everything — making it far more difficult to attract the investors for needed developments.

If you live in Oak Ridge and haven’t already done so, stand up and be counted tomorrow.

The real agenda?

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Two letters to the editor in the Oak Ridger this morning (Trina Baughn, Lila Marathe) lambaste the school board for not reinstating buses, in spite of the City’s granting a portion of the funding increase requested by the school board.

Reinstatement of the buses was not in the budget approved and submitted to council; the increase was needed to avoid additional cuts in programs and services — not to restore anything previously reduced or eliminated. As it stands, an additional $140,000 will have to be cut from the schools’ budget in order to balance it, as is required by state law.

There is a good possibility of additional state funding, over and above the increase estimated in February. Should that come through, the schools budget will be adjusted accordingly. It’s possible that some things previously cut from the budget may be restored. However, that process will not begin until the Legislature takes action to increase education funding, and we receive notification of the expected amounts (along with the expected conditions, which must be met before any other needs are addressed).

I sincerely hope that we do have to revise the budget, and that we’re able to restore a number of things, including real-world base amounts for a number of recurring expenses like textbooks. That would move us away from such heavy use of the fund balance (which is nearly depleted now), and hopefully avoid the steep increases in new funding needed from the City as projected in this year’s budget discussions.

This is one of those times when it pays to pay attention, picking up on names that show up in various venues and linking them. Ms. Baughn spoke at the second reading of the City’s appropriations ordinance one week ago today, asking that City Council NOT raise taxes, that they deny the schools’ request. Ms. Marathe’s husband, Andy, did the same.

So, these ladies have asked that the City deny funding to the schools, yet they sharply criticize the loss of services that resulted from that same action by the City last year.

The truth of the matter lies in the last sentence of Baughn’s letter: it’s all about the election.

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There’s an archive of positive letters here, though.

Liveblogging Council, May 21

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Following the invocation and pledge, items from the City Clerk’s memorandum were added to the agenda.

Under recognition of visitors, Homer Fisher was introduced as Chairman of the Y-12 Community Relations Council. Fisher explained the nature of the organization, then presented a resolution on behalf of the organization which strongly endorses the Crestpointe proposal, and encourages eligible BWXT employees and all other eligible Oak Ridge voters to register a positive (YES) vote on June 5, 2007.

Jane Miller presented a recorded greeting from US Rep. Zach Wamp, congratulating Mayor David Bradshaw on a job well done at this, his final council meeting before the June 5 election.

A Secret City Festival resolution was approved.

Another resolution was approved stating appreciation for the gift of student art, which has been displayed throughout the Municipal Building throughout the year. If you haven’t seen this display, walk through City Hall and marvel at the talent displayed. Fine arts matter, just as physics, math, English, and history.

Three additional resolutions were added, one each commending Leonard Abbatiello, Lou Dunlap, and David Bradshaw for their service to City Council. All three have chosen not to run for re-election, and will be replaced following the June 5 election.

Jane jokes about making Abbatiello laugh during the meetings; I have a joke of my own for Tom Beehan: Kramer. Watch and see if he chuckles next time he looks at his laptop.

 

Lou notes that they’re leaving some challenges for the next Council, and praises staff members Jackie and Sandy.

Jane recounts learning how to be a Council member from David. Tom Beehan praises his leadership style. Andy Marathe notes that he got to know David Bradshaw because he (Andy) bought a desk upon his arrival in town six years ago, and was the only person in Tennessee without a truck. David delivered the desk to his house — that’s constituent service.

The consent agenda was approved, and Council moved on to the second reading of the appropriations ordinance — enacting a ten-cent property tax increase, with the additional revenue divided evenly between the City and the Schools. After being moved and seconded, the Mayor asked School Board Chair to present the most recent information about the potential change in State funding. Smith took the podium and reviewed the information presented at the School Board work session last Monday, but also that the Legislature has changed course several times since last week. The outcome is uncertain, particularly with Sen. Woodson’s bill to reduce the cigarette tax increase to 20 cents.

Abbatiello again asks for answers to the questions which were previously answered at the committee meeting in April.

The City Manager presented his list of City needs, adding $115k to street resurfacing, $50k for an additional police officer, $15k to restore mowing services, $35k for an additional facility monitor (parks & recreation at the Scarboro Center), $21k for an administrative assistant, $30k for library materials, $14k for two additional issues of the city newsletter, $16k for mowing and demolition in code enforcement, $24k to increase dental reimbursement to 80% of $1500, $24k for network upgrades, $6k for GIS enhancements, for a total of $350,000.

Abbatiello questions whether the "equitable" distribution is really equitable; his premise is that the percentage increase for the schools is larger than the percentage increase for municipal operations. However, the schools have more than twice as many employees, more buildings, and a larger overall budget — so therefore, the distribution is NOT equitable, but not in the direction that Abbatiello alleges.

Mosby says he’s less concerned with equitability than with meeting needs, although he has some questions about the distribution of dollars for City needs. O’Connor clarifies that those numbers were modified to fit in the amount available, but because they’re recurring dollars, they can be funded over several years (such as network upgrades).

Lou Dunlap clarified that she realized, when proposing the equally-divided increase, that is was not "equitable" according to Abbatiello’s definition, but that it came closer to meeting the schools’ request, while allowing some improvement to the City budget.

What is the grudge that Leonard bears against the school system? Why do we have to go through this every year?

Beehan notes that he wishes that budgeting was more of a science than it really is. We think there will be additional state funding, but we don’t know for certain, nor do we know how much.

Save me some of that Shiraz, Joel… I think I’m gonna need it.

Bradshaw notes that the "windfall" (additional State money) that some have alluded to is not actually a windfall at all, but the State beginning to catch up to what they should have been paying all along.

 

Smith notes the uncertainly associated with additional State funding, and that he fully expects any new revenue to have strings attached — mandates that we may not necessarily have in our present budget. The budget will be amended, and the amended budget will come back before Council (even though no additional City dollars are required).

Mosby asks if the school board can’t wait until the end of the year to amend the budget; Smith clarifies that the federal dollars trickle in through the year, and it happens almost every year. Funds cannot be expended until they are included within an approved (by the school board and the Council) budget..

Abbatiello moves to amend the motion to adopt a tax rate of $2.55 (the budget & finance committee recommendation). It dies for lack of a second.

Superintendent Tom Bailey addresses Council noting that the School Board, the City, and the City’s lobbyist have worked hard to get to this point with the change in State funding.

Citizen comments follow.

Abbatiello again moves to amend, but with a $2.62 tax rate, decreasing the schools allotment to 3 cents. Dies for lack of a second.

Abbatiello say’s we’re in debt up to our eyeballs, that we’re not doing capital projects because of our debt levels.

Shane Deichman: I respectfully disagree with Mr. Marathe; I’ve lived here seven months, everyone has welcomed me with open arms, and that includes Dr. Bailey and Chairman Smith who have answered every question I had.

Raj Jain: I also disagree with Mr. Marathe.

Martin McBride: Mr. Marathe and i agree on many things, but this is one item that we disagree on. One of the things that we must look at is performance, and if you look at our schools, their performance is stellar. Schools are not cheap — they cost money. Looking at the way the school board does its budgets, they do a remarkably good job of dealing with their issues and financial priorities. Please fund the full request.

THE VOTE: Carries 6-1, with Abbatiello voting no.

One Year Later

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Yesterday, I thanked a friend for a really nice letter to the editor (it was in the Observer yesterday), and he noted that it was exactly one year ago — to the day — that I’d thanked him for a very supportive post for our school system on AtomicTumor.com.

I think that was before I’d actually met him in real life (as opposed to virtual life, which though different, is often more "real" than real life), but I do remember a feeling of gratitude that people like AT and GAC, Bos and Mrs. Eaves had moved to Oak Ridge to raise their families. They are the real hope for our future. We had the gift of GAC for far too short a time, but she left an indelible imprint that makes us better in many ways.

Oak Ridge has always been a place where most people come from somewhere else — whether Norris or Norway — bringing with them a little bit of something different, something fresh, to combine with all else that is Oak Ridge for a unique combination as a whole. These days, there are some folks like myself who were actually born and raised here, but part of our role is to remember and carry on some of the treasures — our symphony, our playhouse, soccer, and so many other things — that were brought from the outside a few decades ago by others that we knew as youngsters.

A comment on AT’s post last year by Joel, an Oak Ridger who grew up here and landed elsewhere, is worth repeating:

… And if you don’t have kids, or they’ve graduated, you owe it to yourself to keep your property values up. Let’s say that $30/yr on a $150K home is the price of housing price stability. OTOH, without the $30/yr, the reputation of OR schools slips, let’s say that home prices drop an average of 5%. That’s $7500 on a $150K home. In this scenario, $30/yr is a bargain.

In the parking lot outside early voting yesterday, I overheard one woman say "School board! Money, money money — raise my taxes and they always want more!" I was saddened to hear the other school board candidate agree with a hearty, "yes ma’am, that’s why I’m running," but I do understand: he doesn’t understand. He’s never gone through the schools budget process, which is an eye-opening experience. It was for me, too, those first couple of years.

Without question, Oak Ridgers have been asked in to carry a larger share of the financial burden than most communities in Tennessee. That’s why reform at the state level is so important. However, a key element of the Governor’s plan is the cigarette tax, which is currently held hostage by partisanship in the Legislature, and we won’t know until sometime in June what the impact to our school system will be.

Second reading of the City’s budget is Monday night. We are in a better position than we were one year ago, with Council having recognized the need and taken preliminary steps to partially address the situation, but I hope that they have the will to continue through second reading. Even so, the schools budget will still be short $140,000, and additional cuts will have to be made. While Council agreed to a ten-cent tax increase, only five of that was allocated to the schools (we needed seven).

IF additional state funding comes through sometime in June, the budget will be amended. It’s going to be an interesting few weeks.